Investigation on the Compressibility Characteristics of Low Mach Number Laminar Flow in Rotating Channel

TL;DR

This study investigates how compressibility and centrifugal effects influence flow characteristics in low Mach number laminar flow within rotating channels, revealing significant velocity and shear stress variations due to rotation and Mach number changes.

Contribution

It provides a detailed analysis of compressibility effects on flow in rotating channels using numerical simulations, highlighting the impact of centrifugal and Coriolis forces on flow profiles.

Findings

Velocity decreases with increased centrifugal force.

Wall shear stress on the leading side decreases by 13% at specific conditions.

Mainstream velocity profiles are significantly affected by Mach number and rotation.

Abstract

In high-speed rotating channels, significant compressive effects are observed, resulting in distinct flow characteristics compared to incompressible flows. In this study, we employed a finite volume method based on the simple algorithm to solve for low-speed compressible laminar flow within rotating channels using an orthogonal uniform grid. The governing equations include the full Navier-Stokes equations and the energy equation. Contrary to stationary channel, the alterations in flow within rotating channel are primarily influenced by the compressive effects of centrifugal force and the compressibility of fluid within the flow's normal section. The first effect involves a reduction in the velocity due to centrifugal force, leading to an increasing influence of the Coriolis force compared to inertial forces along the flow direction. This trend in axial changes aligns closely with the increase in rotation speed. The second effect arises from the increase in Mach number and the Coriolis compression, resulting in slight density differences within the cross-section. Strong centrifugal forces generate significant centrifugal additional force (buoyancy force). Consequently, under the same local rotation number, the velocity profiles of the mainstream experience considerable changes. Additionally, higher Mach number significantly impact wall shear stress, with the leading side being notably affected. For instance, at a cross-sectional Ro = 0.6 and Ma = 0.035, the dimensionless shear stress on the leading side decreased by 13%. Furthermore, while an increase in Mach number has minimal impact on the cross-sectional secondary flow structure, changes in mainstream velocity profiles influence secondary flow intensity, resulting in an enhanced velocity peak and a shift towards the trailing side.